Safety device for gas burners



Feb. 18, 1941.

R. A. WITTMANN SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Feb. '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1941. w N 2,232,501

SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Feb. '7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS BUBNEBS Robert-A. Wittmann. Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago By-Products Corporation, a corporation of Illinois application Februarr'l, 1938, Serial No. 18?,120

iclaiml.

The present invention provides a safety device for gas burners wherein the main gas valveis closed oil in the event that the pilot should go out. Like safety measures may be taken in respect to the main burner where no pilot burner is employed. The invention may be applied to other uses.

There have been on the market heretofore numerous gas safety pilots operating upon various principles, such as the use of a bulb and bellows filled with a gas (argon); the thermocouple operated by the heat of the pilot to energize a magnet coil; the use of bimetallic thermostats, with numerous applications and 15 modifications; the use of the electron principle;

and many others. I

The present invention, which operates upon the principle of employing term-magnetic material having a suitable Curie point, makes possible go certain functional and design advantages not heretofore attainable.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a safety pilot control employing the principle of change in magnetic properties of a :5 ferro-magnetic material in going to and from the Curie point. With the pilot control of my invention it is possible to light the pilot and put the system in operating condition in any desired period of time, preferably not sooner than thirty so seconds. Thereby the operator is given ample time to move away from the main burner before it starts. The safety control of my invention will shut down or cause the shutting down of the main burner quickly when the pilot light is extin- 35 guished. Embodiments of my control have operated successfully and consistently to shut down operation three seconds after the pilot is extinguished, even with the main burner on.

A further object of my invention is to provide 0 a safety pilot which is not provided with and does not require any adjustments. Such adjustments can and usually do get out of adjustment, as the prior art well knows.

A further object of my invention is to elimi- 5 nate all exposed moving parts such as swivels, bearings, linkages, levers, springs, etc. All these are apt to cause faulty operation due to grain growth in the materials, rusting, corrosion, in sufficient lubrication, improper assembly; faulty 50 workmanship, and many other possiblecauses of failure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety pilot which is compact and simple from an assembly viewpoint, inexpensive tomanufaco6 ture, and substantially universal in application.

PATENT OFFICE Additional features of control may readily be added to or employed in conjunction with the present control.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device embodying my invention I shall 5 describe, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of the invention and the method of using the same.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like 10 reference characters have been employed to designate like parts Figure 1 is a diagram of a safety pilot system embodying my invention;

Figures is a vertical sectional view through u the magnetic switch employed in conjunction with the system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagram of a modification embodying myinvention; and

Figure 4 is a diagram of a further modification.

Referring now to Figure 1. the main burner i is supplied from a gas supply pipe ,2 which is connected through a shut-off valve 3 with a supply main 4. A pilot burner I for the main burner I is connected by a pipe 0 to the supply pipe 4 in advance of the shut-off valve 3. The shut-off valve is operated by an electromagnet 1 which, while energized, holds the valve plug or body I of! of the seat or port I, whereby gas may flow through the port and to the main burner I so long as the magnet I is energized.

The magnet 'l is under the control of an electric switch ll which is in series with the circuit of the valve magnet I. A suitable source of current such as house current is available through the conductors II.

The switch Ill comprises a glass envelope I3 with a pair of sealed inleads i4 and ii, the inlead I4 continuing as a conductor it to the bottom of the envelope where, in a depression in the envelope, there is deposited a globule ll of mercury with which the conductor I is at all times in contact.

The inlead I5 is connected to a coil spring conductor it which normally impels the lower or contact end is into engagement with the globule of mercury II. This conductor It carries a magnetic armature 2| which, when attracted toward the adjacent wall of the envelope, causes the contacting portion II to leave the contact i1 and thereby open the circuit of the valve magnet I.

This armature 20 is normally attracted to the open position by the magnetic held of the magnet 22, which may be either an electromagnet or a permanent magnet, and which is shown herein I as a permanent magnet. A pole piece or extension 23 from the upper pole of the magnet 22 terminates at its adjacent end in an angular portion 24 which is secured to the adjacent pole face of the magnet 22. The remote end likewise terminates in a downwardly bent portion 25 which brings the end thereof adjacent to the magnetic armature in the switch [0.

This polar extension 23 is preferably made of a ferro-magnetic material having a Curie point temperature somewhat above the normal ambient temperature of the medium in which it is disposed for operation.

The lower pole of the magnet 22 has disposed adjacent thereto a polar extension or pole piece 26 the adjacent end of which, as at 21, is spaced from the magnet pole 28 by a short air gap. The purpose of this air gap is mainly to avoid the transmission of heat from the member 26 to the magnet pole 28, by conduction.

At its opposite end the pole piece or extension 26 has an upturned terminal portion 29 which likewise is disposed adjacent the armature 20 in such relation that the magnetic field oi the magnet 22 may be exerted at the terminal portions and 29 to attract the armature 20 of the switch Ill.

The polar extension 26 is also made of a suitable Curie point ferro-magnetic material the Curie point of which is selected to lie above the normal ambient temperature oi. the medium in which it is disposed for operation, so that it may lose heat to the surrounding medium in order to maintain its temperature below the Curie point and hence to retain its magnetic properties.

Normally, however, this polar extension is subject to the heat of the pilot burner 5 through the medium of a thermally conductive member 30 which, in the present instance, is a bar of material of fairly high heat conductivity, one end of which is disposed above the flame of the pilot burner 5 and the other end of which is securely fastened, as by welding or riveting, to the pole piece or extension 26, preferably at the upturned portion 29 thereof as indicated in Figure l.

The relation of the parts is such that so long as the pilot burner is in operation the heat developed there is conducted by the thermally conductive member 30 to the polar extension 26 or a part thereof, this polar extension being thereby brought to a temperature substantially at or above the Curie point, whereby the polar extension 26 or a substantial part thereof is rendered non-magnetic and the field of the magnet 22 is no longer exerted upon the armature 20, with the result that it swings into the closed circuit position where the contact l9 engages the globule of mercury ll.

Thereby the circuit from the supply wires l2 to and through the valve magnet l is maintained energized and the valve body 6 is lifted from the seat 9, whereby gas may be supplied through the nozzle 33 and the mixer bell 34 to the burner I. So long, therefore, as the pilot light 5 is in operation supplying heat to the conductor 30 and maintaining the polar xte i 26 at or above the Curie point, the shut-oil valve remains open.

In putting the system into operation the pilot light or burner 5 will within a very short time render the Curie point material 26 non-magnetic and allow the main valve to be opened. This delay allows the operator time to get away from the main burner or the vicinity thereof.

In case the pilot burner 6 goes out, as might be the case in the failure of gas pressure. the supply of heat to maintain the polar extension 26 above or at the Curie point fails. This Curie point material, during normal operation, is constantly throwing 01! heat at substantially the same rate at which it is received. so that a substantially iixed temperature is maintained in the Curie point material 26, holding it at or above the Curie point and hence rendering it non-magnetic. As soon as the supply 01' heat through the conductor 36 ceases due to failure of the pilot burner I, the rejection of heat, or dissipation of it to the circumambient medium, quickly brings the polar extension 26 to a temperature where it recovers its magnetic properties and attracts the armature 20 through the extension oi the field or the magnet 22 to the said armature, whereby the switch I. is opened and the valve is allowed to close, or is closed by spring pressure, as may be desired.

The bar or conductor 30 need not be ferro-, magnetic. It should be either inherently free from corrosion by its composition or should be suitably coated to render it such, for its sole function is to conduct heat from the pilot burner I to the polar extension 26.

Obviously the location and arrangement of the heat conductor 30 with respect to the polar extension 26 may be varied. That is to say, it need not be disposed at the extreme end of the extension 26 although its eitectiveness is. in the embodiment illustrated, substantially maximumat that point.

It is possible to eliminate the conductor 30 so long as the heat of the pilot burner 6 is conveyed to the Curie point material 26 or even to one pole oi the magnet 22, where such heat is suflicient to cause it to lose its magnetic eflect upon the armature 20.

The polar extension with the conductor 36 is desirable for several reasons. The magnet 22, for best eflect, should be 01' a relatively fixed character, whereas the polar extensions may be made of any desired ierro-magnetic material having any desired Curie point to fit the particular purpose. Furthermore, these polar extensions may be made of a very small mass compared with the mass of the magnet, so that they may heat up and cool oil relatively quickly. The two extensions 23 and 26 need not both be made of the same material. In fact, so long as one is made 01' Curie point material subject to the heat or the pilot burner, an adequate eiiect may be secured.

The polar extensions also permit the m to be placed at a convenient point with $22: to the location of the switch l3.

Obviously, the polar extensions themselves might be employed directly as electric contacts and be attracted towards or separated from each other by change in the magnetic properties of either or both 01' them. By employing the conductive strip 30, the main portion of the control may be removed from the immediate vicinity of the pilot burner and the heat conveyed or conducted to the desired point of use.

The polar extensions 23 and 26 are preferably not directly in contact with the glass of the sealed mercury switch III, in order to avoid the direct flow of heat between these parts.

While I have shown an evacuated and sealed mercury switch it is to be lmder'stood that an secondary circuit 42 and energize the solenoid enelosedswitchoianysuitabledaignmaybe 'Itoopenthevalvet.

employed. Alternatively, a gravity switch ma be mounted for relative movement, it oranopentypeswitchmaybeoperatedas aboveindicated.

withthecontrolsbowninl'igurel. I'brexample. the conductor may be extended on the o mosite side of the polar extension ll and be subjected to heat from another source, such, for example, as that of another burner, or from anelectricheaterortheiike. Also,the circuit lioi'themagnetsolenoidlmaybesubiectto other controls, as, for example, through a switch 30 whichmaybemaderaponsivetoanyother desired control condition. Also. a number or magnetic relays or the type shown in Figure 1 maybeconnectedinscriesinthesamecircuit 35 for controlling the main shut-oi! valve 3.

The Curie point material may be, for example, Monel metal of a composition such as nickel, 67.74%; copper, 29.62%; iro 2,92%. The Curie point of this composition isv approximately 152 1-. Another composition, known as valeE.I.56maybeused. Thiscomprisesa composition of nickel, 31.35%; chromium, 11.80%, and the remainder-iron. Its Curie point lies at substantially 295 F. Another suitable material is known as Jessop." It comprises nickel, 32.40%; iron, 66.91%; carbon, .l4%, and asmallamountoi ItsCurlepoint is substantially 291 1". Another material which may be used is Invarl' It comprises 38.00% nickel, and the remainder iron. Its Curie point lies at approximately 485 F.

The control which I have shown may be applied in various relations and it may be applied, for example, to the main burner itseli, without a pilot. In tact, the thermal relay which I have shown may be employed in connection with anyheaterorheatingsystem. Also,insteadoi having the Curie point material in series with the magnet 22, it may be employed as a shunt across the poles. Also, the Curie point material may form the armature or a part 0! the armature, where conditions are such as to permit its use in that manner. Obviously, the reverse relation of the parts, namely, a normally open circuit while the Curie point material is nonmagnetic, may be employed. That is to say, the parts may be reversed without departing from my invention.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a modification -in which the thermal conductor 30 leads heat to a Curie point material shunt 31 which, while it is magnetic, serves as a return path for the magnetic flux by the winding 38 in the core 39. That is to say, the shunt member 31 normally shuts out the winding 4. from the influence of the flux set up by the primary winding 38. Thereby the secondary circuit 42, which includes the solenoid winding 1 oi the shut-oil! valve 3, is deenergiaed and the valve plug I closes the opening 9. However, the conductor ll, receiving heat from the lighted pilot burner 5, conveys this to the shunt 31 of the Curie point material and renders it non-magnetic, whereby the shunt action disappears or substantially disappears to the extent 01' allowing the magnetic flux of the core 3! to thread the coil ll of the Obviously, either the primary circuit 43 or the secondary circuit 42 may be subject to interruption by auxiliary controls, as indicated by the switches 44 and 45.

The operation of this embodiment is apparent irom the above description, namely, that to set the system in operation, proceed as follows: The primary circuit 0 being closed and supplied with energy from the wires II, and the shunt I! being magnetic, the flux set up by the primary winding SI is shielded from the secondary winding ll by the action or the shunt II. The valve I thereby closes the port 0 and the shutoi! valve 3. Whenthe pilot li ht 5 is lighted and the heatthereoi is conducted by the con ductor 3| to the shunt 31, its Curie point is reached and it'is maintained at a temperature at or above the Curie point, whereby it remains non-magnetic so long as the pilot light 5 is on. Thereby the secondary winding 40 is energized and, in turn, the solenoid I raises the valve plug I vironi the port I, permitting gas to be delivered to the main burner I. This condition proceeds. The heat conducted to the shunt 31 is thrown oil to the circumambient medium, but the temperature gradient is such that the Curie point material shunt 31 remains non-magnetic. It and when the pilot light 5 ceases to function, the conductors II no longer receives heat and it, as well as the shunt 31, may then dissipate heat to the surrounding medium, quickly restoring the shunt 31 to its magnetic state, where it becomes eilective in respect to the winding II and causes deenergization oi the coil I, with consequent operation of the shut-oi! valve 3 to close down the main burner I.

In Figure 4 I have shown a further modification in which the solenoid coil I is in series with an inductance It comprising a core 41 upon which is wound a coil ll in series relation between the supply wire I! and the solenoid winding I of the shut-oft valve 3. A portion of the magnetic core 41 is formed of the Curie point material it, and it has the conductor ll extending over the pilot burner i in substantially the relationshowninl 'igure3. Inthiscasethe Curie point material 40 is in series relation with the flux set up by the winding 4!, hence rendering the Curie point material 49 non-magnetic, opens the magnetic circuit 41 and allows a greater flow of current through the coil 48, with consequent operation oi the solenoid I to open the shut-oi! valve 3. Conversely, as soon as the pilot light I is extinguished, the conductor 30 no longer maintains the temperature of the Curie point material II at or above the Curie point, with the result that it becomes magnetic and the flow oi current through the winding ll is choked, thereby allowing the solenoid core to drop the valve 8 upon its port 9 and shutting of! the main burner I.

This control may be modified by the introduction of a switch such as 44 subject to another a condition as desired.

f d ot intend to be limited to the details shown and described except as they are recited in the appended claims, as I believe that the employment of the Curie point material as a control, in conjunction with a safety pilot or similar safety control. operating in conjunction with heating means, is broadly new.

I claim:

1. In combination a permanent horse shoe 4. asaaso: I e

magnet having substantially parallel limbs, stationary magnetic extensions oi said limbs, said extensions lying in a substantially vertical plane, an armature subject to the flux through said extensions, one or said extensions comprising a statlonary flat bar of Curie point material disposed in magnetic conductive relation with the corresponding limb oi said magnet, and a conducting bar of good heat conducting metal in thermally conductive relation to said bar of Curie point material and extending at substantially right angles to the plane of said extensions whereby the outer end of the bar may readily be subjected to the heat of a pilot flame and electric contacts controlled by said armature.

2. A flame responsive relay comprising an armature and electric contacts governed thereby enclosed in a hermetically sealed shell, a magnet for attracting said armature, a polar extension for said magnet extending from a point adjacent a pole of the magnet to a point adJacent the shell, and serving when diamagnetic to permit the magnet to attract said armature, said extension comprising Curie point material which when heated above a predetermined temperature is paramagnetic, and thereby prevents the armature from being attracted, and a heat conductive bar adapted to be disposed in substantially a horizontal position and substantially transverse to the said polar extension having its outer end adapted to be disposed over a pilot burner, and its inner end in good thermally conductive relation to said extension. whereby the magnet. polar extension. armatm'eandcontactsmaybedisposedoutotthe region of the burner.

8. A iiamesresponsive relay comprising means providing a substantially closed magnetic path, 8 said means including a stationary body of Curie pointmaterial tormingapartoisaidmagnetic path and being diamagnetic at room temperature, a heat conducting bar in good heat conductive contact with said body and extending transto versely to said magnetic path, the outer end oi saidbarbeingadaptedtobedisposedinsubstantially horlsontal position over a pilot gas burner. saidbarbeingadaptedwhenheatedbyapilot i'iametoconductheattosaidbodyandtorender the same paramagnetic, and means including an electric circuit controlled by the aforesaid change in magnetic permeability of said body.

4. In a lime responsive relay magnetizing means for producing magnetic flux; means responsive to magnetic flux, a stationary magnetic member of Curie point metal controlling the application 0! said iiux to said responsive means. and having a longitudinal axis extending in the direction of the magnetic iiux, and a heat conductive bar adapted to be disposed over the iiame to which it is responsive, said bar being disposed in good heat conducting relation to the member of Curie point metal and with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis 0! the said member.

ROBERT A. WI'I'IMANN. 

